What are EFU file lists?
An EFU file is a plain text file containing a list of filenames, sizes, dates and attributes.
File lists can be opened with Everything or included in your Everything index.
You can search and sort file lists by size, date and/or attributes instantly.

In the File List Editor, drag and drop files into the list to add to your file list.

You can also add files and folders from the Edit menu.

When you are finished, from the File menu, click Save.

-or-

To make a backup of your current Everything database:

In Everything, make sure there is no active search.

Select all the files in the result list.

From the File menu, click Read Extended File Information.

From the File menu, click Export....

Change Save as Type to EFU Everything File List (*.efu).

Type in a filename and click OK.

What files can I add to a file list?
Any files. However, file lists are recommended for off-line files or files that do not change, for example a CD-Rom, DVD-Rom or NAS.

Does Everything access the files in the file list?
Everything will only access the files if you try to open them or right click them.
File size, dates and attributes are read from the file list.

What is the format of an EFU file list?
EFU files are comma-separated values (CSV) files.
A header is required with at least the Filename column specified.
File size is specified in bytes.
Dates are FILETIMEs (100-nanosecond intervals since January 1, 1601.)
Attributes can be zero or more of the Windows File Attributes.

How do I change the volume for all the files in a file list?

Open the file list in Notepad.

Press Ctrl + H to replace.

Change Find what to the old volume (eg: D:)

Change Replace with to the new volume (eg: E:)

Click Replace All.

Save changes to the file list.

Can I use relative paths in a file list?
Yes, filenames are relative to the file list location.
Optionally use . and .. for locations relative to the file list location.
You can use \ at the start of a filename to specify a file relative to the root of the file list.
Specify a filename with a full path to override relative filenames.

An important feature about EFU File List, wish to be added: show EFU File List Name!

File List is really helpful to manage offline storages, eg USB disk, CD-Rom.
It's common that the user has only a few USB prots, CD-Rom drivers -- means limited drive letters, such as G: H: F:,
but much more USB disks, CD-Rom disks -- means unlimited usb-disk1.efu, usb-disk2.efu, .... cd1.efu, cd2.efu, ...
If all the efu files loaded, and their is one or more search results, eg, g:/music-2013-03-05.mp3, it's hard to know which CD-Rom the file is located, since there is no information about the EFU file list name or the storage device.

another thing..
when you see some file from those filelists your cant right click it..for example if you want to copy paste the name ..but you can do 2 clicks and name is selected and your can copy its name.
have you disabled the right click or you cant enable it at all?

I'm looking for a tool to index external hard drives so I can manage my files while they are not connected or not all connected at the same time.Right now, after a lot of search, "Everything" hits my needs most. But I'm still trying to find a way to rename files even when they are not online, so they get renamed when getting online again (Don't care if that would be as a batch or just in background as soon as the drive is connected again). The missing update function for EFU lists is another problem in this case.

Are you planning on implementing such a function?

Is there a way to see if a file is online / offline or where the search result comes from? (DB or Filelist)

Anyway, intresting and very unique tool right now.

PS: If I rename the file in explorer and try to access "extended information" in the right-click-menu "Everything 1.3.2.644b" crashes.

Thanks for the suggestions, I will think about the option to rename offline files.

Is there a way to see if a file is online / offline

Unfortunately, no. The only way to test is by opening the file, or right clicking the file. This can cause a time-out if the file is offline making Everything unusable during that time. Making the offline items grey would be great, but again it will take 10-30 seconds to determine this, and tricky to detect when the file comes online.
These sorts of features are on my wish list.

where the search result comes from? (DB or Filelist)

To see the file list filename, right click the Column header and click the File list filename column.
Color customization for file list items is on my "Things to do" list.

PS: If I rename the file in explorer and try to access "extended information" in the right-click-menu "Everything 1.3.2.644b" crashes.

void wrote:
The only way to test is by opening the file, or right clicking the file. This can cause a time-out if the file is offline making Everything unusable during that time. Making the offline items grey would be great, but again it will take 10-30 seconds to determine this, and tricky to detect when the file comes online.

Tricky situation. Maybe you should integrate offline files into your database so you can look for existing entrys when a new device gets connected and update them. Sadly I'm not into programming, the only things I do is TSQL and stuff.

Is this feature already implemented? I have several extended HDs which I only connect when I need a file or folder stored on it. Unfortunately the search results don't show the volume name of the HDD...

I till use Cathy a bit, and while I use Everything far more (i.e. constantly), I think there's only one feature left missing that I really desire.

I have an autoplay handler for Cathycmd that automatically creates a new catalog for Cathy whenever optical media is detected. The catalog name is that of the volume label by default, and all volume labels of my DVD archives are unique which makes catalog creation through this means optimally convenient. I could have the same sort of handler for Everything if only not specifying an EFU name would default to the volume label as Cathycmd does. Having to specify the filelist name rules out autoplay functionality and makes the task of creating ~4000 EFUs evermore daunting for me.

Defaulting commandline filelist name, if not specified, to that of the volume label would be intelligent behavior IMO and would not cost other functionality given that the first parameter is assumed to be a path rather than a file name as long as a backslash or colon is present.

An important feature about EFU File List, wish to be added: show EFU File List Name!

I have added this to my "Things to do" list.

Hi,

this would be a great advance for me too.
Please add an option to Display the Filename of the EFU File instead of the Drive Letter. All my USB Sticks uses the same Driveletter. After search via your tool, I can use the right Stick.

Why a special extension (EFU) was chosen? What was the problem to use the familiar TXT file?
The Windows System and People are already familiar with the TXT files (and CSV). Why does everyone have to relearn the meaning of this EFU extension? Isn't it the same thing/result?

Stamimail wrote:Why a special extension (EFU) was chosen? What was the problem to use the familiar TXT file?
The Windows System and People are already familiar with the TXT files (and CSV). Why does everyone have to relearn the meaning of this EFU extension? Isn't it the same thing/result?

Umm, well, there's the fact that you can associate .efu with Everything. When double-clicking an .efu, Everything will open it immediately.

Relearn the meaning? If you use EFUs, you probably know what an .efu file is. If you don't use them, then why do you care?

Your argument could be used for any file types which contain plain text but use a unique file extension, including .xml, .html, .ini, .cfg, .cpp or to name one you mentioned that many people never even use, .csv. I'm thankful they all exist.

Try to look from point of view of a beginner user.
A beginner user is familiar with the known file extensions, he knows what is expected when opening them and how to open and deal with such file extensions.
In contrast, this EFU file extension, the beginner user doesn't know this is a plain text. He needs to read about it somewhere.
Probably it was much easier to the user if he knew about it. So that he can edit it manually, without the File list Editor.
The default Export\Open\Import was to\from TXT, and an advanced user wants to open it with double click as associated, simply could change the TXT file extension from TXT to EFU.

Anyway, in the File list Editor, is there no such an option to save to TXT.

One reason for the efu extension is to have a file association with Everything. Something I can not really do with txt or csv.
Another reason is efu contains all the necessary information for each result, whereas exported csv and txt do not.

efu files use the csv format.
efu files can be opened/edited in Excel, or Everything can open csv files with the correct Filename header.

It's worth noting, but probably not of much help:
efu files are marked as text/plain in the registry.
This will show Notepad when you right click -> Open with...

To open a file list in Everything, the following information is needed:

The full path and filename.

A flag is also used to determine if the item is a file or folder. This flag is not required.

Differences between the exported formats:
EFU exports the full path and filename, a flag to determine if the item is a file or folder, size and date information.
CSV exports the text that is visible in the Everything result list.
TXT exports the full path and filename.

Anyway, in the File list Editor, is there no such an option to save to TXT.

Added to my TODO list.
An import option would be useful too.

I'll consider adding the option to open file lists from with a csv extension that contain the Name and Path columns.
I'll consider adding the option to open file lists from with a txt extension.
With both of these types it will be difficult to determine if an item is a file or folder result.

Is there a way to open efu file from within Everything Results, in a case efu extension is not associated with Everything? (Portable)
Can such a thing can be created? For example by dragging the efu file on the taskbar button (Open with) or in other way?

is there a possibility to add more then one drive to the command line operation, mentioned at the beginning of this Topic?
The original one is:
Everything.exe -create-filelist cdrive.efu c:\
It creates one filelist called "cdrive.efu" scanning the harddrive c:, but what I need is one filelist for more different drives.
Something like this:
Everything.exe -create-filelist cdrive.efu c:\ d:\ c:\
This example isnt working - a filelist will be created, but it includes only the content of the C:\ drive, i think because it's the first one in the command.
How can I realize it? Is there a separation syntax behind? Is it even possible?

Another question:
If I use the command line Operation to generate a filelist for c:\ drive mentioned above, i get about 750.000 results, but if I use the GUI only for drive C:\ the results are about 1.000.000.
Where is the difference?